First, allow me to daydream about what a scene this must've been. Owsley goods spreading into the Florida crowd. Reefer tossed generously from the stage. A tribal venue. Had to have been a very interesting show to attend.

Some of these songs are a bit forced. The band hammers away at a high volume, when they might've been better served by using a pinch of restraint here and there. When it comes to the late '60s, I tend to lean more towards the nuanced psychedelia and cowboy tunes, but I know some people live for the raucous Pigpen raps. This show, like so many others, has a bit of each!

The highlight is the Dark Star. Very spirited and impressive, without ever really melting into the cosmos. It just coils, snarls, pops, and flexes the whole way through, eventually segueing into St. Stephen.

Great Florida Dead show. Overall, I prefer 5/30/69, admittedly. 5/23/69 is pretty spazzy and feral, but I know that's what some folks love about '60s Dead. Whichever way your pleasure tends, this one is worth any deadhead's time, if only for the mashing Dark Star, which rolls nicely into the rest of the big Live Dead sequence.

This is a well-known show, primarily for the Dark Star, though there are fine moments elsewhere too. The Road Trips release is $55. and up now that Dead.net has long sold out, so I'm settling for this board to stream, since I have a good desktop stereo now. The following night is a good show as well. Interesting to note that the band flew out to Florida and back to San Francisco just for these two shows, period. Sounds as if it was worth it!